A police officer stopped William Francis Blankenship on January 10, 2012 at a gas station. He thought he saw drug paraphernalia in the car. So the officer placed him in handcuffs and put him in the back seat of the police car.
While the officer searched his car, Blankenship got out of the back seat, into the driver's seat and drove off in the police car. Minutes later, he contacted police on the car radio to ask where to find the cigarette lighter and the keys to his handcuffs.
The officer says he didn't notice what Blankenship was up to until he saw the tail lights leaving the gas station. Says he had a "dumb look" on his face for a second since he handcuffed him with his hands behind his back.
Police found the stolen patrol car the next morning in a drainage ditch, submerged in water. Fortunately, the weapons that were in the police car when stolen were found in place. There was no sign of Blankenship, but the turned himself in the following night, Thursday.
Blankenship was interviewed from jail:
Blankenship is accusing the police officer of setting him up...he claims if enough drugs were found to put him a way for a long time, it didn't belong to him. He can't prove the drugs weren't his and was fearful he wouldn't see his family again so the stole the police car. That's his explanation and he is sticking to it.
Although, he could be telling the truth about the cop setting him up...he mentioned it a few times during the radio call to police and it has happened before. If he is being truthful, I hope he can prove his case. But if he isn't, let's see him contort his way out of jail.
Peace
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